We Must Stand Up Against the Rise in Public Transport Prices: Andranik Tevanyan

We must be vigilant and prepared that if the price increase project is accepted, and they attempt to implement it, we should stand up against it and not allow this price hike.

This statement was made during a Facebook live broadcast by Andranik Tevanyan, coordinator of the 'Mother Armenia' movement, while discussing the project for increasing transport prices.

“We proposed that there be no price increases; the bus and metro fare should remain at 100 drams, the trolleybus fare at 50 drams, and citizens should be given the option to either use a single ticket by paying the current amount each time or, if they use public transport 4 or more times a day, to purchase our proposed tickets: 400 drams for one day, 2000 drams for one week, 5500 drams for one month, 20000 drams for six months, and 35000 drams for one year,” Tevanyan elaborated.

According to him, the municipal authorities have not accepted their proposal and do not substantiate the proposed price increases in any way.

“At one point, they withdrew the project, and today, just an hour before the committee meeting, they are going to put the price increase project into circulation. They made a cosmetic change, claiming it is cheaper than the previously proposed price, but transport is still becoming more expensive,” Tevanyan noted.

The financial committee of the Yerevan City Council may approve the project today, and, according to Tevanyan, it will be included in the agenda for the council meeting on March 12.

“We must be vigilant and prepared; if the price increase project is accepted and they try to implement it, we need to stand up and not allow this price increase. What they have come to power to do is to raise local fees, parking charges, and payments without offering anything in return—simply taking money from citizens. Now they want to distract people by saying, ‘Look, we have brought in new buses, hoping that people will forget about the dilapidated Gazelle buses,’” said Tevanyan.